‘People will continue to die at Europe’s borders’

People will continue to die at Europe’s borders if the European policy, Seebrüecke International, has said.

Seebrüecke International gave the warning following the shipwreck that occured at Zuwara, Libya.

About 61 people were feared dead in the incident.

Narrating how the devastating incident occured, Seebrüecke International said: “On the 14th of December, @alarm_phone received several distress calls from a significantly overcrowded boat that had departed from Zuwara, Libya. The situation was particularly dangerous due to the rough sea.

“Alarm Phone immediately informed the authorities in Italy, Malta and Libya and the civilian rescue vessel Sea-Eye 4. The #SeaEye4 was the only civilian rescue vessel available and was 12 hours away from the distress at sea.

“Other civilian rescue vessels were not on the scene due to being assigned to distant harbours or because Italy was detaining them.

“About 4 hours after the Italian authorities were first informed, the MRCC in Rome instructed the VOS TRITON to help the people in distress at sea.

“The VOS TRITON is a supply ship and is not equipped for rescues. It has already been used in the past to bring people fleeing back to Libya against their will. Of the more than 80 people on board the overcrowded boat, only 25 could be rescued.The 25 survivors were taken back to Libya, around 61 people are missing and are presumed to have drowned.

“Shipwrecks like this are not accidents – they are the result of calculated decisions by European politicians and authorities.

“People will continue to die at Europe’s borders if the European policy of sealing off borders is not finally brought to an end! We demand safe passage, an end to the criminalisation of flight and sea rescue and freedom of movement for all people.”